APC wins all chairmanship and councillorship seats in Ogun LG election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) [/b]achieved a resounding victory in the Ogun State Local Government election held on Saturday, winning all 20 chairmanship positions across the state’s 20 local government areas. This sweeping victory underscores the party's stronghold and political influence in Ogun State, with APC securing an unassailable lead in the local elections. The election saw widespread participation, with a total of 613,156 votes cast in the chairmanship elections across the state’s 20 local government areas, reflecting a high voter turnout despite some controversies surrounding the election process. In addition to the chairmanship seats, the APC also triumphed in all 236 councillorship positions, further solidifying its dominance over the local government landscape in Ogun State.

The results of the election were officially announced by Babatunde Osibodu, Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta. Osibodu confirmed the APC’s clean sweep of the elections, which has been hailed by supporters as a major political win for the party. The announcement of the results was anticipated by many, as the APC’s dominance in Ogun State has been a recurring theme in recent years, with the party consistently securing victories in both local and state elections. The victory in the local government elections further cements the APC's strong political presence and dominance in the region, placing it in a prime position to continue shaping governance in the state.

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However, the outcome of the election has been met with strong opposition from the Labour Party (LP), which has raised serious concerns about the election process. In particular, the LP Chairman in Ogun State, Biodun Jagun, vehemently rejected the results, calling the election a “sham” and questioning the legitimacy of the entire process. Jagun accused the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) of failing to conduct a credible election, alleging that there was no visible election activity in many of the polling units across the state. He claimed that OGSIEC officials were absent in over ninety percent of the polling units, and there were no election materials available at these units as of 1:30 pm, long after the scheduled 8 am start time for voting. 

According to Jagun, in the few polling units where election materials did arrive, they were incomplete, and the delivery was made much later than the official start time, leading to significant disruption of the electoral process. He argued that these failures in the election logistics undermined the integrity of the entire election and made it impossible for the process to be considered fair or credible. Jagun further expressed his dissatisfaction by stating that the good people of Ogun State had been vocal on radio and television, expressing their frustration over the absence of the election, adding to the widespread perception that the election had not taken place in many parts of the state.

In light of these allegations, the LP Chairman made it clear that the party would not accept the results of the election as announced by OGSIEC. “We totally reject whatever results that are declared in this sham of an election. Even the good people of Ogun state have been expressing their opinions on radio and television that there was no election in Ogun State,” Jagun remarked. He then called on OGSIEC to cancel the election entirely, arguing that the process had violated the electoral guidelines set out by the Ogun State Electoral Law. 

Jagun’s rejection of the election results was not only a condemnation of the conduct of the election but also a threat to challenge the outcome in court. “We call on OGSIEC to cancel the entire election for being in clear violation of the electoral guidelines of Ogun State Electoral Law. If they fail to do this, we will reject any results that are announced and put the necessary machinery in motion to challenge this charade in court,” he stated. This declaration signals the Labour Party’s intent to pursue legal action if the results are not annulled, potentially leading to a prolonged legal battle over the legitimacy of the election process.

The dispute over the results highlights the ongoing tensions between the ruling APC and opposition parties in Ogun State, especially as political campaigns and elections continue to heat up. As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) and the Labour Party to see if the commission will respond to the calls for cancellation or if the results will stand as announced. Political analysts and observers are also watching closely to see if the Labour Party will indeed proceed with its legal challenge or if the matter will be resolved through political negotiation and compromise. Regardless of the outcome, the controversy surrounding the Ogun State local government elections serves as a reminder of the challenges that often accompany electoral processes in Nigeria, where the question of free and fair elections remains a key concern for all stakeholders involved. 

The situation also underscores the critical need for electoral reforms and improved election administration in Nigeria, especially in the conduct of local government elections, where logistical challenges and allegations of irregularities have been recurring issues. With the APC securing a significant victory in the election, it remains to be seen whether the opposition parties will succeed in overturning the results or if the ruling party will maintain its grip on the local government landscape in Ogun State.